Oh, wow, this is nuts.

In 1999, #NorthernIreland secretaries were issues documents on how to correctly refer to #Ireland and #Britain. The article describes it as being written for #PeterMendelson, but it sounds like a standard document issues to all secretaries.

Apparently as late as 1999, #NI Secretaries had to be specifically advised not to refer to the #RepublicOfIreland as the #IrishFreeState, a political entity that had not existed since 1937.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0824/1401391-northern-ireland-briefing-papers/